Gifted Gorgeousness - December 2022

Hello Dear Readers

Just a little post before Christmas! Probably not the best time to post ….. I know we are all so very busy!

So sorry if I haven’t been able to comment on your post. Blogger changed a little while ago, and I’m not sure if my old blogging friends will all see my posts as Blogger stopped sending notification emails to followers, so I hope you will have found me via my blogging friends Blog Lists. Google now asks one to sign in on some blogs, so, as I am not very computer orientated it makes it impossible for me to comment …..

Anyway, I digress, back to the subject - Gifted Gorgeousness is where we share photos of gifts received and given. See who is joining in, and maybe you’d like to join in too, over at Serendipidous Stitching. 

Firstly, I can show you the completed alphabet letters I sent to Clare of Ametu’s Stitching for her church’s Annual Christmas Tree festival (read about the festival here).  The “B” is stitched on pale green which, sadly, is so hard to photograph, and the “E” on tea dyed fabric. (Clare’s photos are much better than mine!!!)

All of us who sent letters of the alphabet to Clare left them unfinished so she was able to finish them in one style before they went on the tree. I do hope you will pop over to see everyone’s stitching. The Trees all look magnificent. 

-ooo-

Also this month, I finished stitching a second “Bees” by Melisa - forgot to take a photo, if you need a reminder you can see the first one I stitched on this previous GG post and then gifted this month’s “bees” to a friend at my handicraft group along with the yellow check fabric I used for the first finish (as my friend wanted to make “bees” into a gift for a friend of hers). 

-ooo-

I’ve encouraged a few ladies at my handicraft group to try cross stitching this year and one of them gave me this cute card, saying she was thinking of me as she stitched it.  Thank you so much, Peggy, if you’re looking in. 

-ooo-

Another friend at Handicrafts bought in some fabrics she wasn’t going to use, and I thought they might be useful in finishing one of my Christmas decorations:

This same lady decided cross stitch isn’t for her, sadly, and so kindly gave me this kit ….. although stitching with gold is not my favourite, so I will have to see whether I will actually stitch these.  However our club has a big anniversary next March and if I don’t use it it might be a little something for the sales table.  

Anyway, I must go now. I’m off to see whose blogs I can comment on!

I’ll be back before long with my post about tea dying. Oh, and I’m going to try changing my header photo too. I might not be able to because I’m using my iPad mostly now and I’m not sure it will accept my edited photo. 

If I don’t return before Christmas do have a super one and I look forward to hearing from you and seeing your blogs too in the New Year. 

So,

Here’s wishing you a

Very Happy Christmas,

and

A Peaceful 2023

Hugs,

Barbara xxx

2022 Advent Calendar Blog Hop - Day 17

Hello Dear Reader,

 

I’m here today to join in with Jo’s annual Christmas blog hop on day 17. 

Jo asked us to show some Christmas/Winter stitching and talk about “afters”.  

You can visit Jo for all the details and for the list of everyone joining in here. 

And so this is my Winter stitching:

Stitched from this free pattern
by Melisa of PinkernPunkin Quilting 

I had hoped to have finished this, but sadly not. It’s going to be a small cushion, the same as Melissa’s - but the scrap of fabric I was intending to use wasn’t wide enough for the backing so I need to think what other fabric I can use !!!

I’ve also been stitching the advent calendar from CrossStitcher magazine, 

as I love every motif, 

but, alas this too will have to be finished for 2023. 

Surprisingly I got a little diverted from my Christmas projects by a little “everyday” stitching, when my crochet hook, pens and nail file all jumped out of their place in my project bag  - obviously I needed a little pouch to keep all these little things safe.  I wonder if this will be finished soon ….. or will it join all my many WIPs in “The Dreaded Cupboard” ???

My latest whim. 

I’ve been tea dying a lot of my fabric lately - I find I just don’t like plain white fabric any more, and I keep wanting to see what colour the different teas will make my fabric. I could be back with more on that. 

- oooooo -

Ooooh! I almost forgot ….. “afters” - Back when I was growing up my maternal grandmother used to stay with us over Christmas and she would do lots of cooking to help mum and dad, each Christmas she would  cook : Christmas pudding, a Dundee Cake and lots of mince pies for all the family, however, nowadays we don’t eat many puds or cakes although hubbie and I are rather partial to mince pies and custard, or a Christmas pud - but sadly shop bought. 

I have lots more sewing I want to do before Christmas, and a couple of photos for Gifted Gorgeousness,

 so I’ll try and write here again soon. 

A Very Happy Christmas to you!

Many hugs,

Barbara xxx

GG - Birds and things

 Hello Dear Reader.

Hello my lovely friends, today I'm joining Jo of Serendipitous Stitching for Gifted Gorgeousness where we shoehorn in any stitching that even remotely comes under the title of "gift"!  Read all about it on Jo's blog (Serendipitous Stitching) and to see what everyone else has stitched visit Jo HERE

-oooo-

Aaaaargh! Last post I asked for help with line spacing and the lovely Jo (yes, same Jo as mentioned above) told me how to do it! And what have I done? Only forgotten to put the code before I started typing! Aaargh! Must try and remember next time!

-oooo-

It was only as I started to type this post that I realised there were a few birds involved, and I will start with this Robin!

This is the letter "E" that I tried to stitch for Jo's last Blog Hop ..... but didn't leave enough time to fully finish - now finished, although not Fully Finished Off..

Pattern from CrossStitcher Magazine

( Issue 351 Dec 2019 )

Stitched on: tea dyed aida

And, just because I love the Robin here's a close-up

This is included in Gifted Georgeousness because I am going to send it to Claire of Aimetu's Stitching for the Annual Christmas tree she displays in her church, although it won't be leaving me just yet as I want to stitch a second letter.to accompany it!

-oooo-

Secondly - oh no! I've just realised the photo doesn't show the little bird very well! But anyway the pattern for this was one of the very generous freebies from the lovely Melisa of Pinker & Punkin Quilting.

"A Basket of Spring"

Tea Dyed Aida

Pattern : Melisa of Pinker & Punkin Quilting

At the time of writing this post we had a beautiful pheasant visiting us and I kept trying to take a photo but every time is saw me in the window it flew off!!!!

As you can see, this time was no different!

-oooo-

And lastly, and only because this shows a bird, - here is my "current stitching". coming along slowly.

Oh, and here is another visit from that elusive bird, but why does he have to stand with one foot in the water bowl?????? Funny critta!

And here we are - hiding again!

Oops, and "just because" another project I've been working on lately - until I found I've run out of one of the colours!!!! 

Right, I'm off to visit a few blogs now, and maybe stitch a few stitches later!

Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx

Gifted Georgeousness - Feb/Mar

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for visiting today.

It was great fun joining in with Jo’s blog hop in my previous post, but I'm sorry I might not have visited/replied to everyone, and consequently I felt too guilty to write another blog post until today!

 This was my stitching, which appeared on Astrid’s blog -  still awaiting FFO'ing. 

Free kit from CrossStitcher magazine

And the beautiful stitching I received, which you saw on my previous post, was from Felicia of Simplicity in Beauty.com.

----------------

Today I'm excited to show you two little projects:

I'm hoping to link to Gifted Gorgeousness - visit Jo of Serendipitous Stitching to read all about it.

The first is one I've had in my Books file for simply ages! I actually never thought I'd stitch it because most of the colours are simply not my style and I had to buy new cottons specially.  So this is Sister Stitcher.  It is a free pattern from Isabella Abbiati of The Primitive Hare. 

I really enjoyed stitching it, such cute little characters! I used all the called for colours (in DMC), fabric from stash -  really old stuff  -  it's something rustic, I think 18hpi.

I was trying to find a good way to show my tiny stitches, although I'm not sure it helped much!

Not quite sure how I'm going to finish it but it is going to be a gift!

-----------

and this little card is a gift I received from Val of www.fabricandcrafts.co.uk @val_fabricandcrafts 

(although I didn't have the pattern and stitched it from the cover photo of the kit).

As it happened it was just right to send
to my mum for Mothers Day  

Before I sealed it into the card for posting!

Well that's all for now, I will be back with some WIPocolypse stitching soon!

Barbara xxx

Oooh, one more thing:

Beautiful little
gift I received from a lovely
stitching friend (not a blogger)

 

Secret Stitching Sweetheart blog hop

Hello Dear Reader,

Happy Valentine's Day!!! 

In the world of cross stitch Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is renowned for her blog hops! And today we are joining her for the latest!

Those taking part have sent Jo a photograph of stitching suitable for a gift to our:

Secret Stitching Sweetheart 

Jo has randomly distributed those photos amongst those taking part, for us to show on our blogs. The idea is that now we go and visit everyone else to discover who has our piece of work and then let them know it is ours!

If you visit Jo HERE you will be able to visit those taking part and see some beautiful stitching  

This is the photo I received:

NOT MY STITCHING!

I can't wait to discover who stitched this beautiful project and now I'm off to Jo's to start visiting the:

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog hop

I expect we will find lots of gorgeous projects to add to our stitching lists. I love reading your kind comments, but don't forget ..... if you don't comment no-one will know you've visited! (I'm sorry I have a few comments still to reply to but your comments still mean a lot to me).

I hope you  have a lovely stitchy week!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx 

Advent post - 17th

Hello my blogging friends!

Early last year I had to go into hospital for an unexpected operation. I've been recovering and now I'm back again, and so, today I’m joining Jo for her Annual Advent Calendar Blog Hop. You can read all about the Hop over on her blog HERE

Jo asked us to share a picture of some Christmas stitching and to talk about our Christmas Trees.

Most years I seem to be stitching yet another Christmas tree, and this year is no different! So here is this year's finish:

Badge, kit from Cross Stitcher magazine

This tree was stitched on plastic, I expect many of you saw it in the magazine, I found it a little hard to stitch! The felt was attached to the back with double sided sticky tape 

and a few stitches so hopefully it won't come adrift.

Not the neatest, I know! 

Jo also asked us to talk about our actual Christmas Trees: 

I remember at mum and dad's when I was very young we had a real tree with lots of tinsel, and the mess of needles as Christmas went on. The tree had an angel,  pretty decorations and lovely lights, although the lights often wouldn't work as they needed new bulbs.

As we have two little monsters of cats we don't have real trees.  Our latest  is ceramic. I made it 20 years ago, as in it came from a mould and I painted it (during a ceramic class) and then it was fired.

and a couple of years ago we found this little tree somewhere which sits on our dining table on the actual day.

So, as I haven't been here for the last year I just wanted to let you know I haven't given up stitching.

I'm currently working on "Snow Place Like Home" 

(from CrossStitcher magazine! Issue 365 - January 2021)

Just added the blackbird this weekend.

and the CrossStitcher Festive SAL 

Do have a look at Jo's blog HERE for more festive stitching 

from the Advent Blog Hop.

I'll try not to leave it so long till I'm here again!

Happy Christmas everyone!

Barbara xx

Gifted Gorgeousness - December 2020

Crikey ..... not the best day to write a blog post! 

It is Christmas Day as I write these words, and I think everyone in the world must be on-line as my computer is reacting so slowly!!

I hope you will stop and have a little read here today as I join Jo of Serendipitous Stitching for Gifted Gorgeousness.  If you don't know what it is all about do pop over to Jo's blog to read all about GG HERE.

(Not my stitching, this is Jo's
badge for the SAL0

There are a few gifts to mention this month ;

The only cross stitch to show this month is a page of a calendar from CrossStitcher magazine - January 2021 -   Issue 365 - a Free Gift to be exact, and therefore qualifying for Gifted Gorgeousness. 

I stitched the January picture really fast, to send in to the magazine as part of a competition to see who can stitch this picture first. (Only the picture with the blue edges - the pink edged one is February).

Then I stitched this mask and pouch for a blogging friend:

And, yes I've been really busy this month, also finished and gifted this bag I'd started waaay back at the begining of lockdown, for a non-blogging friend:

Oh, and we received these very tasty little biscuits from our neighbour's children with our  Christmas card  the result of a baking session with her young daughters:

Clare has now fully finished the flower (see photo below) I sent her back in August. You will no doubt have seen all the completed flowers on her web-site HERE. 

What a shame Covid stopped people seeing the tree of flowers in person at the church as Clare had planned, still hopefully they will be able to show them next Christmas!

Thank you so much for visiting, and I do hope you are having a Very Happy Christmas!

Roll on 2021 .....  it has to be better than this year surely! Look forward to seeing you again then!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx

My late "Naughty November " post!

Apologies to Rachel and Tiffany for not posting last Monday. I had this ready to go but somehow didn’t press Publish! I don’t know why, but I’m here now!

I really enjoyed joining in with Tiffany and Rachel for Naughty November! The idea was to make a few new cross stitch starts! Mine were all Christmas projects ..... I never usually manage to start in time for Christmas so a new start thingy seemed ideal to me!

And this is where I was up to last week (it's grown a bit more since though!)

Naughty November - Week 3

Hi everyone,

Naughty November is the Brainchild of Rachel  and Tiffany - the idea was for one new start each weekend in November.

 

Well, this week I got so carried away with my stitching I forgot to make any new starts!

But I do have two finishes to show you!

Naughty November - new starts #2, 3 and 4

Hello My Friends,

Joining Rachel of Ten Hour Stitcher again for Naughty November!

So last week I carried on stitching my first new start for the month and started on the second:

1 - Cosy Christmas Wishes, from LK

2 - Christmas Cheers, from Ultimate Christmas Cross Stitcher Collection - 

Nos 3 & 4 - Christmas Tags, also from Ultimate Christmas Cross Stitcher Collection -

I was hoping to use these for Christmas cards but they are really tiny, only 1 1/4" x 1 1/2"

Then over the weekend I carried on with "Cozy", it's growing quite fast!

 It was nigh on impossible to show the colour of the fabric,
but I was at the top of our stairs when I noticed the light was just right to show the light green!

I've been jumping from one project to the other over the weekend and this is where I'm up to now on 

1 - Christmas Cheers:

Pop over to Rachel's to see who else is joining in this week.

Have a great week! Keep safe and well!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx

Naughty November

Hello Dear Reader,

Today I am joining Rachel of "Ten Hour Stitcher" and her friends for "Naughty November"! As there are a few so many little cross stitch projects I've been meaning to stitch  (and especially the Christmas ones) I decided this was definitely time for me to join in!

Trick or Treat Blog Hop 2020

Today I’m linking to Jo of Serendipitous Stitching for her annual Trick or Treat Blog Hop. (Find out more on Jo’s blog)

DH and I have never really celebrated Halloween ..... much ..... I could tell you about the year when our Halloween decorations almost set our porch on fire, tee hee, but we’re here for some stitching and a little crochet I couldn’t resist making this year!

Previously I’ve watched Jo's Blog Hops and collected a few Halloween cross stitch patterns, and this year  I stitched - Boo, a free pattern from Happiness is Cross Stitching.  Unfortunately I ran out of time and haven’t managed to make it into a “flat fold” ..... yet! I made one tiny change from the pattern though and stitched the little ghost in grey as I don’t think he’d have been visible at all!

On Instagram @chaicoffeecrochet I found this cute little witch - Zena! She is such a sweetie! There is a free pattern and you can find her and others on the blog Chai Coffee Crochet - here 

(Zeena is approximately 4.5" tall)

Zeena 

And I just couldn’t resist making this little guy:

Howl 

There was a competition on Instagram but as my Howl didn't really meet any of the categories I didn't join in.

The free pattern for Howl can be found here at Cafe del Craft!

Zeena and Howl had great fun,
messing around at the photoshoot 

Oh, and one more thing, of course, the letter you’re looking for is: (and just imagine this bit is centred, because I can't find the centering thingy!!!!)

“S”

If you are taking part in the Hop, the next blog to visit is: 

https://lifeoutsidethewashingbasket.blogspot.com/

Thank you for popping in. Have a great Halloween!!

Stay Safe and well!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx